How to Write Black Characters: An Incomplete Guide

by Salt and Sage Books

You care about writing diversely. You know how important it is to have accurate representation in your stories. You want to include characters whose experience is outside of yours. It's easy to find examples of writing gone wrong, but where do you start to get it right?

The Incomplete Guide to Writing Black Characters can help. Written and collaborated by several of Salt & Sage's Black editors and sensitivity readers, this guide is a compilation of important things you should know before you sit down to write a Black character. You'll find 10 of the most common tropes and concerns as identified by our talented staff, with links, explanations, and ideas for how to write your Black character authentically and with real respect.

This Guide was written entirely by our Black sensitivity readers.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Black Lives Matter.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

108 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Salt and Sage Books is an editing company centered on the idea that a rising tide lifts all boats.

We are a creative community of devoted readers, writers, and editors, hailing from the desert's sunwashed sage to the coast's shining seas, and we've brought together our diverse skills and experiences in a single welcoming place, to help writers like you.

When you choose Salt and Sage, you join a creative community working together to change the world through story.

Check out our Incomplete Guides series for an accessible first step into writing diversely.

You'll find a wide range of editors, sensitivity and expert readers, and beta readers on our website, www.saltandsagebooks.com.

Welcome to the rising tide.

Reviews

[Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to the topic. Even if you think you know the basics of what to do (or, more likely, not do) if you're not an "own voices" writer (i.e. you're representing an identity or experience that isn't your own), this book goes beyond the basics and gives details that may be new to you. I learned a number of things from this book. It is quick and easy to read, and worth the time.

[Alice Hanov · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Write Black Characters by Salt & Sage books

🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2

This book was recommended to me by my sensitivity reader. If you don’t know what that is, don’t worry I’ll be going in depth about it next week. For now, know that if you are a caucasion writer you need to read this book.

It’s only 80 pages (being too short is where it lost that ½ star b/c I wanted MORE) and while it calls itself ‘an incomplete guide’ it gives you so much to think about to ruminate on when creating your non-white characters. It touches on stereotypes to avoid, hair, language and several other aspects of being non-white, and while I thought I’d done a good job in my world building this book reminding me that I can do more.

So I strongly recommend everyone read it. Salt & Sage books

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent starting point, both for writing and for anti-racist studies.

[Savy Leiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helpful resource!!

Really helpful resource for writers. I'm planning to read the other books in this series as well! Brainstormed a ton of ideas while reading

[Hot Mess Sommelière ~ Caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book written by several editors/sensitivity readers of salt and sage.

It does what it says it does, which is enlighten authors (and readers!) about harmful tropes/stereotypes often associated with Black characters, as well as some pointers about how to write about some topics that are quite specific to the Black experience.

It's important for readers, I think, to recognize and be educated about harmful stereotypes, racism, xenophobia and bigotry, so that one can recognize it as a bias the author holds.

Sensitivity readers exist because there are topics which we are more sensitive about and topics we are less so. For instance, women would probably do better spotting a misogynistic plot and characterization, than men. But with awareness and education, both men and women can easily spot misogynism in books and movies. I read this book because I want to easily spot anti-black racism in books. While some stereotypes were already known to me ("Magical Negro" "Uncle Tom" "Mammy" "Angry Black Woman"), others were less obvious to me and I only had a superficial understanding of them.

Now, this book isn't exhaustive in any way. In fact, authors would have to do a lot more research than this to be able to write authentic black (main) characters without making a complete mess out of it. For readers, though, this is a really good guideline so you can spot racist nonsense and point it out in your review so that POC reviewers don't have to shout at the top of their lungs about somethings when it's glaringly obvious.

[Kimberly Vanderhorst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many white writers, I’ve been hesitant to include Black characters in my stories, despite yearning to reflect the diversity of the gloriously multicultural city I grew up in. I knew my imagination wasn’t up to the task of understanding the Black experience. But I didn’t know how little I understood till I read this guide. It’s about 100 pages long, but it wasn’t a super quick read because I kept having to pause to process. There is a LOT of incredible, mind blowing info here. I plan to read it multiple times, and have ordered the paperback so I can highlight and make notes.

I am still hesitant. And I have been beautifully humbled. But I’m also emboldened by the hope I can now write Black characters with greater depth and authenticity than I ever could have on my own. I can not recommend this guide enough. It is a must own.

[Elizabeth Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been studying this subject for years, so not much was new to me. But it's great having all the tropes etc. in one place and laid out in a logical manner. And there are a plethora of sources for further reading.

[Shannon Fallon]

A nice little guide for writers. Also useful for those who want to improve their ability to identify problematic character depictions in the books they read (and possibly review/decide whether to recommend). While it is quite short and clearly only a starting point, it's great that it provided suggestions for additional reading right at the end so you know where to go next!

[Debra Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but preachy. I recommend it with an asterisk.

There is a lot of good information in here, but it's all overshadowed by heavy preaching of 'white privilege' to the point where it misrepresents reality. I would recommend reading it if you're a writer, whether or not you currently have any non-white characters or not. Just take it with a grain of salt.

[S.M. Roffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given that it says in the title “an incomplete guide”, this book gives exactly what it advertises. It’s excellent, easy to read, and has resources for you to follow up on your own.

As explained in the book, one Black point of view doesn’t speak for every Black point of view, so it’s important to temper what you learn from the book with that knowledge. This is a fantastic start, though, and well worth the read.

[D.H. Sayers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and Insightful

I picked this up as I am preparing to write a new novel. As I read I found a great deal that immediately applied to my current work in progress and answered many of the questions I had. Would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more than their own experience.

[Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely something I'm going to keep revisiting and reviewing, and I'm excited about some of their other incomplete guides/the ones coming in the future. Also I was excited to discover all the sensitivity readers that work with Salt and Sage Books and I hope to be able to hire some in the future.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the staff of Salt and Sage Books for providing me with much of the insight that I didn't know existed. While I did know about a lot of things in Black culture because of growing up and living near so much of it, there was still so much that I didn't know about. Again, thank you for the information necessary for me to alter in my writings.

[Melisa Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to read if you are like me, and worried you may fall into harmful tropes or stereotypes unintentionally. This book creates scenarios, explains why they are harmful, and tells you how to fix or avoid them. Nice quick reference guide. I would definitely read other books by Salt and Sage Books.

[Kristin Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Writers Should Read This Book!

I’m a professional editor, and I recommend this book to all of my clients. I am so thankful for Salt & Sage and all of the important work they are doing. Thank you for the gift that is this incomplete guide.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful and encouraging

This guide should be in every writer’s library. Suggestions and examples are presented in a way that encourages and supports the honest effort to write authentic characters.

[Jessica Gallant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read and understand. The author touches on interracial relationships, hair and religion just to name a few. I feel more confident writing about poc after reading this book. I highly recommend it to fellow authors.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Two Klan members: Mr. Salt and Mr. Sage have concocted another racist text. How to write black characters. How about spending time with black people? Finding out about their likes and dislikes? Finding they are human after all? Oh, no! Race mixing should be *verboten*. Better have a book.

[Kimberly Dietz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh this book is leaving me with so many emotions--the good kind. I have a lot more to think about and research, and I'm both excited and nervous!

[Iona Wayland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read for writers and non-writers alike! Black and mixed editors and sensitivity readers discuss some of the most common, harmful stereotypes and tropes. They teach how to better the portrayal of Black and Brown characters to be accurate and stop the perpetuating cycle of systemic racism.

As an author myself, I learned quite a bit about where the roots of the prejudices come from historically. As a mixed race woman, there was validation on having words to identify what I see all too often in television and books.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited about this book when I first heard of it. But ultimately it felt very basic I think as a black new adult woman it wasn't written for me, more so it was written by people who look like me. It's definitely one: For Authors and two: For A White People. I'm still looking forward to reading more of their books I already have the book on Asexuality and I look forward to the one on plus size characters. It might not work out for the same reasons that this didn't but it's still very interesting partially because I can relate to those people / characters.

[Belinda Kroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great primer for creators wanting to avoid the broad strokes and stereotypes culture embeds in the subconscious. I do believe there is an error on page 2 (the Uncle Tom stereotype comes from Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, not Huckleberry Finn) but otherwise as a mixed creator myself, I agree with their references, resources, and general advice for someone who had no access or insight into the diaspora.

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so important! Not just for writers, but for everyone. It provides first-hand accounts and gives excellent sources for more. For an author, it tells you what stereotypes to avoid and what information you need to write well-rounded characters. For everyone, it reminds us that, while equality has come a long way, we are nowhere near where we need to be. To work everyday to root out racism and racist ideas that still plague society. It should be required reading in schools!

[Neve Regler · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
A great, informative book that covers many topics in a to-the-point yet thorough manner. I will likely be purchasing a few more 'Incomplete Guides'. The only reason this cook isn't 5 stars is because I wish that there were less exterior resources (websites) linked and more content within the book though, at the same time, I am appreciative of these links being added as it means I have further resources that I can trust.

[Kate Hornstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good start: avoid stereotypes, racism is different in different countries. It bills itself as An Incomplete Guide which is true: very, very brief (could be an article or two) and I don't think it can replace conversations, observations, and research if you're a white writer writing about Black characters.

[WHL (Bill) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll recommend this book to all writers regardless of color but especially white writers who decide to create black character(s) in their stories.
Just as the title suggests, it's an incomplete guide, but in my opinion, a valuable resource for a writers library.

[Kit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly useful and welcome addition to any collection of writing/storytelling guides.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful advice, with examples. If have given it give stars, except for the prolonged appeal to hire their company to do a sensitivity evaluation, at the end .

[Alice Nuttall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, really helpful guide.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely excellent and I'll be recommending it to authors I work with to add to their knowledge bank.